Skip to main content

Fat Girl Finishing School by Rachel Wiley



Personally, I'm not one for poetry. It was never a strength of mine when at school, as it was hard to decipher what could be seen as being metaphorical to the literal meaning. But I really wanted to try something new on this occasion. 

I fell in love with this cover and when I looked at the description of body positivity and feminism, I was entranced into this new world I never have really wanted to step into before.

Fat Girl Finishing School is composed of several poems talking all about the fear of being in a public place and being ridiculed for your weight, to the idols that Wiley has come to love even from the beginning of her childhood, where there was not as much positivity for women of certain bodies. It is also a very personal piece allowing for us all to get to know what really is most important to Wiley and how she has the opinions that she does and how they have come to formulate together. Which is quite fascinating to see. 

There is one particular poem that I have come to love quite a lot: 10 Honest Thoughts on Being Loved by a Skinny Boy. This particular piece feels as though it is more personal than most of the poems in this book - raw and vulnerable. Very similar to many people who have familiar thoughts of the same capacity. Even I felt something in this piece that is even relatable to myself, even though I am a person who likes to keep these types of feelings under lock and key. But society doesn't have to do this to us. Put us down, shove us to the floor like we are nothing because we aren't a model on the front cover of Vogue (as much as it feels like we should). We all have to come to terms, that no matter our sizes there is always someone out there who would love you. But first you have to look at yourself and see that you matter and you are loveable.

The only main upset that I have from this book is it would have been lovely to see these poems being performed. So, I guess that it is not really much of a negative. When reading the poems they do give some impact, there were many times where I just audibly said out loud "wow" and completely in awe how Wiley is able to compose the English language in a way that works for her narrative. There may be some times, although I am not always willing to admit, is how she speaks very close to home. Especially to myself, as someone who is seen to not be as traditional a person in society that people hope. This is what makes these poems special, as it speaks to more than one person, no matter the form in which it has been received by the audience.

My rating today is four stars. 

Have you read this book or anything by Rachel Wiley? What are your thoughts on poetry? What is your favourite poem? Join the discussion in the comments!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Frostfire by Amanda Hocking

It is back to Amanda Hocking this week, with her new book that I have recently been talking about, when reviewing her other series, the Trylle Trilogy. Although, this book is now in a new series, but set in the same universe. It is called the Kanin Chronicles... I must admit, when actually owning the book, the cover is very enchanting and beautiful. How for instance, the main character and protagonist, Bryn Aven, is at the centre of attention, with her coat covered in red. Whereas in the background, it is very muted colours, with the whites and blacks, but also having a sort of wonderland type of presence. Red to me also makes me feel quite uncomfortable and moreover is a colour for danger. So, onto the criticisms then! First of all, I don't know why but I felt a little bit out of place with this new world. Maybe it is because I read the other series in the same universe, I may have gotten used to them far too much. So when there are old characters appearing and being ment
2 comments
Read more

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

This has been a long time in the making, but here it is. A court of Mist and Fury. I think that there is now the time to definitely say something about this, especially when the next book has already come out in the series. I genuinely do love this book. I think that it is much better than the first one in the series. This is mainly because of that in which the new characters are far more likeable, and those who we had been introduced to previously have been developed. For example, with Rhysand, I have found to be far more complicated than what had already been shown in the first book. In fact, I don't think that the first book did any justice for him. In any sort of perspective. However, it has also identified that Tamlin is not all that he seems, very annoying more than anything. I think however, that it is more due to the fact of that in which it feels like it was a waste to have a whole book with him in, now that the story has developed. In this next instalment, it carr
Post a Comment
Read more

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

Publisher: David Fickling Books Date of Publish: January 1st 2015 Suitable for which gender: Unisex The book consists of two protagonists who are both suffering from two big secrets. There is David Piper; who wants to be a girl and Leo Denton; someone who just wants to be invisible. Somehow both of these two individuals come together and become very good friends in the process. It is really interesting as there is not much regarding the subject of the transgender community in modern YA fiction, in a way Ms Williamson has got some guts to base story around this topic. Not because it is wrong, but rather misunderstood. It has heartache and pain, as well as joy and happiness, which not only they experience, but you as well. I think that the time that it has come out is perfect, as it is an ever changing world, which has shown to become more aware of people around us and accepting everyone for who they are. We must always think about these issues like, imagine if you felt
Post a Comment
Read more